An Internet Clipping

...A shaman's medicine colors are black and white because he/she walks the world of Light as well as Shadow - the polarity of man's existence. Black and white also represents the balance a shaman seeks to maintain, both inside himself/herself as well as bringing that balance to his/her clients. It is well expressed in the Eastern concept of yin-yang.

Bat is the Mayan and Aztec symbol for rebirth, and the totem animal for shamanism. Bat hangs upside down in the cave, just as humans are nestled upside down in their mothers' wombs. In leaving the womb or the cave, each is forced to look at light and shadow. Bat embraces the idea of the Shaman's death. In ancient traditions, the would-be-shaman was sent to a certain location to dig his/her own grave, and then spent the night inside that grave, totally alone. The grave opening was supported by limbs, covered by a blanket, and then filled over with dirt and debris. Absolute darkness and total silence quickly cause the initiate to be confronted by his/her fears. The basic idea of the initiation was to break down all former notions of "self", and to cause the initiate to face his/her inner fears and demons. When the initiate is released from the grave, the old persona and ways of life of the one "who was put in in the ground" truly are dead and buried. A "new" person emerges, reborn, with the right BY INITIATION to be called a shaman, and to heal. During my initiation, I spent three days and two nights totally isolated within the grave, and it truly is a terrifying experience.

What a Journey

This journey was intense and dreamlike, so the details are a bit muddled.

I sat down, turned off the lights, put on my "Lifepuzzler" station on Pandora, and began to rattle. For some reason tonight I felt as if I didn't need it. I knew tonight was special almost instantly. I felt Brother Bat as clearly as I had the first time, and his voice seemed to boom. My body seemed to be more relaxed, and the images more clear then ever before.

I had interpreted a dream for someone earlier today, and I asked Brother Bat if my interpretation was correct. He told me it was, and that my powers of intuition were growing. I asked that this person's power animal be sent to them through a dream, and we visited Frog(the power animal in question). He agreed and was on his way. I decided to continue journeying.

On my street there is a rock that resembles a pagan standing stone. I had always been interested in the rock, and tonight before I came home I decided to lay my hand on it and feel it. I felt energy funnel through my body as if I had become part of an electrical circuit. I decided that tonight I would finally communicate with a mineral spirit, and so I called out to the rock in the spirit world.

I saw my spirit body sitting cross legged on the street in front of the rock. He began to speak, and the energy from the rock made me feel as if I was floating out of my body. I almost passed out. I asked him what his properties were, and he said he was descended from a Cairn, and that he could amplify my power greatly. I asked him if, when I make my medicine/mojo bag, I might use of a piece of him in it. "No, of course you can" he said. I asked him if he had any wisdom for me.

He told me to stay on my path, to never be ashamed of who or what I am, and one third piece of advice I can't seem to recall. I thanked him and returned to the part of the spirit world I most often visited, carried on the back of Brother Bat and feeling amazing. There was a knock on my door, and I knew I had to return. I gave thanks. "Thank you Brother Bat, thank you Brother Frog, thank you Sister Rock." The word sister seemed to fly right from my mouth, as if I had meant to say it. Yet I had reffered to the rock in the male sense, and it responded in tow.

An amazing experiance.